Dock not working; command-tab switch between programs not working

The Dock does not work. I have restarted (although the computer will not restart under "Restart", getting stuck at the last part, and needs to be restarted manually). When I change Dock preferences it reverts back to default settings. If I am lucky, the dock will appear and then disappear (poof) without having functioned.
The command tab function for switching between programs stopped working also.
The individual programs work, but I have to go to recent items to switch programs.
Further, I have two Previews open (with different documents in each) even though I have only one Preview program.
A whole lot of bizarre things that may be connected? I would appreciate any help.

You could try removing the .plist file again, but this time, try also removing the com.apple.dock.db file. Then log out and log in again.
Also, it seems as if many people are having similar problems. See [this thread|http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=9126119].
So, does the problem persist with another user account?
If it were my machine, the next thing I'd try is downloading the combo updater from Apple's website and reinstalling it. 10.5.6 is available [here|http://support.apple.com/downloads/MacOS_X_10-5-6_ComboUpdate].

Similar Messages

Switching between programs

I have one little problem. I know very well how to use mac OS X in most situations but I just can't find out how to switch between programs when an override is active like battlefield 1942. I just want to look if I god messages in Adium or I like to switch music in iTunes. Command-Tab does not work here. I tried many man things but didn't find it.
Thanks for help.
Bastian

I'm not really a "Game" person, and have none loaded on my Mac.
But I would think that if your Dock preferences are set to "Automatically hide and show the dock" you should just be able to move your pointer down to the dock position and switch to your programs that way.
Also, have you tried hitting the Command+Tab keys at the same time and switching between programs that way? (you press the Command Key and while keeping that held down you press the Tab key then by repeatively tapping the Tab key you move across the icons of open programs to get to the one you want)

Apple + Tab between programs not working properly

I've never had a problem with tabbing between programs until the past week. Specifically, it's tabbing from any program back to Firefox. I'm running OS X 10.4.11 on an iBook G4 and Firefox version 2.0.0.14. Basically, what is happening when I tab to Firefox is that Firefox becomes the active program (the program appears in the top bar) but the browser window doesn't show up. The only way I can get the window to show up is to open a new browser window followed by closing it (or by pressing F9 and selecting the window manually), then the original browser window becomes the active one. Has anyone ran into a similar problem? Or more importantly, does anyone have a solution?

I can confirm it IS NOT the remote. We have 4 ATV G2 here and all the remotes work fine for three of the boxes. One box, even after factory reset, will not allow any of the remotes to scroll/select up direction in menus. Again- multiple remotes that work fine for other ATV boxes will not work in the up direction on a single ATV. Definitely a problem after latest update on at least some of the hardware!

Why will Firefox allow me to have multiple tabs available, but not allow me to switch between tabs, and can only look at a new tab by closing the previous one?

Whenever I open a new tab, it appears on the tab bar where it should, but if I click on it nothing happens, the tab won't open, and I can't switch between multiple tabs. The only way to get to a new tab is to close the one I am currently on, and even then it will only open the next tab in order of precedence, so I can not even choose which tab is the next to view. This problem is making it impossible to use firefox as a research tool which requires fast switching back and forth between multiple tabbed pages simultaneously.

'''Try Firefox Safe Mode''' to see if the problem goes away. [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode|Firefox Safe Mode]] is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings, disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).
If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:
*In Firefox 29.0 and above, click the menu button [[Image:New Fx Menu]], click Help [[Image:Help-29]] and select ''Restart with Add-ons Disabled''.
*In previous Firefox versions, click on the Firefox button at the top left of the Firefox window and click on ''Help'' (or click on ''Help'' in the Menu bar, if you don't have a Firefox button) then click on ''Restart with Add-ons Disabled''.
If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:
* On Windows: Hold the '''Shift''' key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
* On Mac: Hold the '''option''' key while starting Firefox.
* On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run ''firefox -safe-mode'' <br>(you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)
When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".<br>
[[Image:Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win]]
'''''If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode''''', your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the [[Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems]] article to find the cause.
''To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.''
When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

Command Tab to Finder doesn't work

Hi All,
I've seen a few other posts with this problem, but the suggested fix didn't work for me. The problem is that after some period of use when using Command-Tab to switch to the Finder the Finder windows do not come to the front. The Finder is definitely the active application because its menu bar is displayed. But the previous application's windows are still displayed. If I Command-Tab to the Finder again (going through all open apps) or click on the Finder's dock icon, then the Finder windows will come to the front. Similarly, if I'm working in some other application and try to switch to the Finder via the Dock, the same problem exists. I have to 're-select' the FInder in order for the open FInder windows to come to the front.
The one suggestion in another thread was to trash the Finder preference file. I did that and it didn't work. After a period of use the problem will return. The only way to fix it is to either force a relaunch of the Finder or reboot the machine.
Unfortunately a side effect of trashing the prefs is that another problem was created - now when I relaunch the Finder it doesn't remember what windows were opened and it only gives me one window with the top level of the computer displayed. Previously when relaunching the Finder it would bring back all of my open windows. So the fix didn't work and it made things worse.
FWIW the Command-Tab problem seems to occur after using Quicktime and/or Safari for a while. I can't be 100% sure that it's related but it really does seem like it.
Anyone have any suggestions for how to fix this?
Thanks,
Chris

One way to test is to Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, Test for action in Safe Mode...
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive
Reboot, test again.
If it only does it in Regular Boot, then it is some 3rd party add-on, Check System Preferences>Accounts>Login Items window to see if it or something relevant is listed.
Check the System Preferences>Other Row, for 3rd party Pref Panes.
Also look in these if they exist, some are invisible...
/private/var/run/StartupItems
/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/StartupItems
/System/Library/LaunchDaemons
/Library/LaunchDaemons

Command-Tab switcher missing apps

Many, many times every day when I do a Command-Tab to invoke the app switcher, running apps are missing from the list of icons. Usually it's the one I last was in, and want to get to.
This really cramps my productivity. Happens to anyone else? Any fix?
Also, I thought the app icons in the switcher were supposed to be in decending order of last use. At least that seems to be the normal pattern. But very often recent apps appear in the middle or the end of the list.
This has occurred on several Macs, from 10.4.3 to 10.4.5. Is the app switcher just not working right?
Thanks!
Mac OS X (10.4.5)

I have noticed a pattern to the missing icons bug when doing a Command-Tab to bring up the Application Switcher (usually the missing icon annoyingly is the previous app one was in, precisely the app to which one wants to go):
If one does a Command-Tab twice in succession, the second time the missing icon returns.
PowerBook Pismo 500 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Can I change the order of applications in the command-tab switcher?

I recently replaced my old computer running 10.5 with one running 10.8. It's a small thing, but irritating: in 10.5, when I hid an application, it would be bumped to the back of the switcher list, but in 10.8, the list is purely chronological in order. For example, if I hide Chrome now, a single command-tab would bring me back to it, rather than to the most recent non-hidden application, which is what I'd prefer. Again, I realize it's a small thing, so if there's nothing I can do about it, oh well, but I figured I would check.
Thanks for any help!

Sorry there is no way to accomplish this.
The heads-up screen has no modifiable behavior other than it basic default for quick switching between apps.
Tab forward
Tilda backwards
mouse on any app

"When I open a link in a new tab, switch.." Doesnt work correctly

I'm using Firefox 28.0 (Waterfox build)
I've verified that:
- browser.tabs.loadInBackground: False
- browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground: True
- "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately" is enabled in the UI.
It seems only some websites actually switch to the new tab. Also, sometimes, this feature will stop working all together; requiring me to toggle the Firefox UI setting and/or restart firefox.

Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode|Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
*Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
*Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Switching between program windows.

I can't switch from one program window to another with cmd+<. For example when I have two safari windows it's not possible to switch between the two with these keys. I use this a lot. How can I fix it?

Hi..
Check in system preferences under keyboard / keyboard shortcuts /keyboard & text input.
On my mac its ctrl + F4 (^F4).
/Dennis

Firefox 4 tab-switching hot keys not registering?

When I watch videos online via YouTube or other streaming or flash media, the tab switching keyboard shortcuts (Cmd+2, Cmd+3, etc.) will not switch to the desired tab. I have to click on some blank space on the side of the website in order for it to register. Anyone else experience this?

ds store wrote:
novaprospekt89 wrote:
I rather gouge my eyeballs out than use Safari.
My suggestion is to ask over on the Mozilla forums why FF 4.0 doesn't cooperate well with the graphics swtiching, or what can you do to keep it not demanding the dGPU.
Have you tried using NoScript to block scripts from running, might reduce the dGPU dmeand some from Flash etc.
I haven't been able to find centralized forums at Mozilla, unless I'm looking in the wrong place. Their support system seems very decentralized - you post a problem and it sits out in cyberspace until someone stumbles upon it. You can't browse like a traditional message board, I can't even categorize it so people can better find it. But yes, I have posted the problem in their "system" and didn't get much help there other than someone suggesting gfxCardStatus to toggle manually (not exactly a fix like I said).
I've heard of some people trying to use NoScript to block flash (flash is the culprit in a lot of websites that sap battery life surreptitiously but I haven't tried it personally. My issue with trying NoScript is that it is just another "workaround" and not a solution. NoScript will undoubtedly have unintended side effects/consequences where websites just don't display right or "work properly" and I'll probably end up having to toggle it on and off -- no different than fiddling around with gfxCardStatus to turn the discrete dGPU on and off.
Ditto to disabling hardware acceleration in Firefox 4 options (which actually doesn't fix the problem of the dGPU being wrongly activated, and ends up causing more problems than it solves).

HT1414 My new ipad mini does not allow me to switch between modes in the built-camera app. It is stuck on video mode. Can anyone advise?

My new ipad mini will not let me switch between modes when using the built in camera app. It is stuck on Video mode. I am unable to take photos, although I could when I first used it. Could this be a fault with the pad or with the new 7.0.4 update? Can anyone help please?

Have you tried to force quit the app? Double tap the home button. Scroll sideways if needed to see the icon and preview for the camera app. Flip that app up and off the screen to close it then single tap on the home screen preview or single tap the home button to exit the mode.
Try your camera app again and see if you can switch modes.
When you switch modes, you do have to drag the words, not just tap on the video word, if that makes any sense. When you try to go from video to photo, do you try to drag the photo word to the front?

Hanging when switching between programs?

Is there a soluton to programs hanging when switching between one program to another?

Safe Mode deletes some system caches that may help..
Startup your Mac in Safe Mode
A Safe Mode boot takes longer than a normal boot so be patient.
Once you are in Safe Mode, click Restart from the Apple () menu then try switching between applications.

Sound does not turn off when switching between AppTabs, ie Pnadora to other radio stations

I have several radio stations (Pandora, NPR, etc) as Apps Tabs, but the sound does not turn off from one when switching to another.

Thank you. This is precisely the type of solution I was looking for.
My home network is set up with a single router that assigns DHCP addresses and does the NAT to the internet. This router does not have wireless. Its location is too out of the way (given where Comcast brought the line in) to be any good at wireless broadcast. So I installed two access points on the wired network.
I had vaguely known something about using the same SSID on the multiple base stations but I had also heard of difficulties a university reported having some years ago.
In any case I made the switch and it works great. I get full bars on the icon on the menu bar as I walk around the house. Exactly what I was looking for and no manual intervention once I set it up.
Thank you.

Command+tab through documents? (NOT applications)

i was wondering if there is a way to do a similar function to tabbing through open applications but with open documents. you know how you can switch applications by pressing commmand+tab? is there a similar function for open documents within the same program?
for example, if i have several Pages documents open, is there a way i can tab through them the same way i can tab through Applications? i just get frustrated by constantly having to move the documents around so i can get to the one i want.
thanks in advance.

You can click and hold on the Dock icon.
-mj

Premiere Pro CC 2014.2 crashes frequently when switching between programs

I've started to frequent program crashes in Premiere Pro CC 2014.2 in Mac OS 10.10.3 on my 2013 Mac Pro. The issue occurs when I switch from another program, say word or Adobe Audion back to Premiere Pro. I get the 'we're sorry' dialogue box and the application crashes. About 50% of the time when this happens - when I reopen the application it crashes again - and then on the 2nd re-open it's successful. It's really hampering my workflow to worry about a crash every time I move into AE or Audition. I've uninstalled all plugins, uninstalled and re-installed PP, cleared the media cache, and reset preferences. Still happening every day on this machine. FYI i have a 2013 iMac running the same OS which has been opening the same project files without this issue - so it seems like it's specific to this machine for some reason...

Hi,
I would suggest the following steps:
http://blogs.adobe.com/kevinmonahan/2014/09/10/premiere-pro-cc-freezing-on-startup-or-cras hing-while-working-mac-os-x-10-9-and-later/
Run a disk permission repair on your boot drive, and
Reset Home Folder permissions and ACLs Error | Apple Support Communities
Thanks,
Rameez

Dock not working; command-tab switch between programs not working

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for